Health teacher Amy McClure was recently named the 2010 National Health Educator of the Year.

When she heard that she had been chosen for the award, she was both surprised and honored.

“I feel like my job impacts other’s lives,” McClure said.

She has been teaching health education for 15 years and says that getting teenagers to understand that the decisions they make impact the rest of their lives is one of the hardest parts of her job, as well as one of the most important.

Even after giving many presentations about health education and receiving this national award, McClure stays humble in her attitude.

“I don’t feel that I’m really that special,” McClure said. “It just feels natural to help people. I would rather see kids healthy and happy than anything else.”

Teaching health education requires setting an example for her students, which is what McClure strives to do.

“I try to walk the walk and not just talk the talk,” McClure said.